Toddlers love birthday parties and nothing is as special as planning your toddler’s big day. If you are searching for fun birthday party themes for toddlers, check out these suggestions.

Superhero Theme

One of the most fun and classic birthday party themes for toddlers is a superhero theme. Set the mood for the party with great decorations such as superhero posters, capes and masks. Cover the tables in blues and reds. Do not forget the balloons and confetti. Keep the menu simple with foods in bright colors and shapes. Order a cake with a picture of his favorite superhero or in the shape of a superhero. Entertain the little partygoers with fun games such as a superhero training camp, Mr. Freeze dance, spider walk or pass the kryptonite. Of course, dress your little boy in his favorite superhero costume and request all guests to dress as a superhero such as Superman, Spiderman, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman.

Wild Wild West Theme

The cowboy theme is another favorite amongst toddler boys. Decorate the place with little rodeo hats, bandanas, a toy lasso and brown ruffles. Do not forget to place a couple of toy horses to make it even more authentic. The children can dress in cowboy outfits and play stick horse race (use a mini broomstick as a substitute for real ponies) and watch them ride their steeds merrily around the room. If your budget permits, why not make a call and rent a pony so each toddler can take turns riding a pony. For the perfect giveaway, give the children sheriff’s badge stickers or a photo of them riding the pony.

Pirate Theme

Another great birthday party theme for toddlers is the pirate theme. Transform your yard into a pirate ship with decors like old wooden signs, red and black accents and flags. Give the little ones eye patches and plastic swords to get the complete feel. Play games such as pin the eye patch on a pirate, walk the plank and of course treasure hunting games to make the party more exciting. Do not forget to give each guest a small loot of chocolate covered gold coins as a party favor.

Tea Party Theme

If your little girl loves to dress up, turn her birthday into a tea party. Send out invites on scented, dainty looking paper and ask the guests to dress in their pretty dresses, hats and gloves. Turn your home into a dainty cafe by using a flowery tablecloth, garland archway and other pretty items in pastel colors. Serve lemonade in mini china tea cups and finger sandwiches and cupcakes on saucers. For the games, play tea bag toss, sugar cube relay or pin the cup on the saucer. Add beaded necklaces and doilies in the goody bags.

Princess Theme

Every girl dreams of becoming a princess, so why not treat your little one as one during her special day? Ask the guests to dress like royalty. Lay a red carpet to give the guests a grand entrance and hand out tiaras while welcoming the children. Beautify the room with a balloon archway. Adorn a chair with balloons and anything pink so your little princess can sit on her throne. Use princess themed plates, napkins and streamers. Party games such as pass the poison apple, musical chairs and kiss the frog are perfect for keeping everyone busy.

Water Theme

Most toddlers love being in the water and this theme is perfect for your toddler’s summer birthday. Set-up an inflatable backyard pool, turn on the sprinkler or fill a watering can and let the toddlers go wild splashing each other. Do not forget to bring out water guns, toy buckets and shovels for some water games.

The list of birthday themes for toddlers is endless. All you have to do is to be creative and you will have that memorable birthday party for your precious one.

Technology is so powerful that even the very young get hooked on it. Children and computers make a good team. But, it is important for parents to know the advantages and disadvantages of computers to children.

The Advantages

Educational Value

Academic growth is one the best advantages of computers to children According to a research, toddlers who use computers gain more learning which result to better development as compared to children who do not use computers. Clicking on icons teaches cause and effect. Teaching a toddler how to e-mail can improve his writing skills while searching the internet exposes a toddler to various resources which helps expand a child’s knowledge.

Boosts Motor Skills

Using a mouse and pressing keys gives your toddler’s chubby hands the same type of exercise he gets from drawing or coloring. These movements also improve hand-eye coordination that will pay off in the years to come as your toddler learns to tie his shoes, use scissors or throw a ball.

Hones Performance of Toddlers With Special Needs

Toddlers with special needs can greatly benefit from computers. There are a lot of activities and lessons designed for children with special needs you can find online. With these learning materials, a toddler with special needs is able to execute tasks he cannot normally do. In addition, since they are found online, it can be accessed by the toddler at his convenience unlike a special needs teacher.

Source of Entertainment

Another advantage of computers to children is entertainment value. Toddlers can spend a couple of minutes playing games online. There are a lot of child-friendly websites your toddler can visit to play games. Most of these websites are educational so a toddler can learn the ABC’s, numbers, shapes, words and other basic concepts he has to learn for preschool.

The Disadvantages

Limits Interaction With People

The main disadvantage of computers to children is that it limits social interaction. A toddler needs to interact with people, especially kids his age to hone his social skills and learn empathy.

Too Much Stimulation

Bold colors, loud sounds, flashing lights and continuous action can overwhelm a toddler. This can make a toddler irritable after a computer session and give him a hard time focusing on quieter activities such as reading.

Impedes Physical Development

Too much sedentary time is not only bad for your toddler’s posture but it also limits him from moving. Physical play is essential to toddler growth as it helps build strong muscles. Computers rob off a toddler’s chance to figure out how to stack blocks to construct a building or shovel sand into a bucket – hands-on activities that can help a toddler discover the world around him.

Vision Problems

A toddler who spends too much time staring at a computer is at risk of having childhood computer vision syndrome. Children are prone to this because computers require motor skills from eyes that are still underdeveloped.

In this modern time, computers are undoubtedly a part of a toddler’s development. While computers are beneficial to children, too much exposure can cause harm. Thus, it is important for parents to guide their children so they know how to balance cyberworld and real world.

Toddler games are an important part of a toddler’s development. With today’s modernity, more and more toddlers are using iPhones and iPads to play games. To make sure they are learning while having fun, download these popular applications designed for preschoolers.

Wheels On The Bus

Wheels On The Bus is based on an interactive nursery rhyme song designed to provide preschoolers hours of creative fun. It is available in 5 different languages. Your toddler can read the lyrics while touching various objects on the screen to open bus doors, make whooshing sounds by touching the windshield wipers, turn the wheels, pop bubbles and even make a dog bark. Your toddler can also change the settings to hear the instrumental version. He can choose from cello, kazoo, piano and violin. There is even a recording feature which will truly delight your little karaoke master.

Preschool Music

This application will help unleash the musician in toddlers. It features a virtual keyboard with 4 musical activities – an underwater percussion, rhythm game, compose a tune that is narrated by a jolly parrot and a silly group of parrots that sing music in the round.

Preschool Adventure

From the developers of Preschool Music, Preschool Adventure also has the same colorful and simple graphics but focuses on educational games. Your little one can learn basic shapes, count to ten and match colors. This application also includes a game that will teach your toddler animal sounds and noises. It has tons of bright, expertly drawn characters that will surely entertain your toddler for hours on end.

Etch A Sketch

Etch A Sketch is a classic toy you might have played with as a youngster. Your preschooler can now create works of art virtually. He can use his finger or use the knobs to draw, change colors using the paint palette, shake to erase and even save drawings and import photos. Plus, it has various games and puzzles that will challenge your preschooler’s drawing skills.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is an excellent way to introduce your toddler to colors, letters, numbers, shapes, counting and puzzle solving and matching. It has 6 different activities that is led by a cute monkey. Your preschooler can help the monkey stuff the lunchbox with fruit by solving the games. Once several activities have been completed, your toddler can select a cartoon sticker and tack it on a personalized virtual board.

First Words Sampler

In this game, your toddler is given a picture, the word illustrating the picture and jumbled letters. Your preschooler has to drag the letters to its corresponding place. This application teaches your toddler spelling, sounds, pronunciation and recognition.

Teach Me: Kindergarten

Teach Me: Kindergarten has 4 age-appropriate topics – addition, subtraction, sight words and spelling. You can choose subjects, difficulty levels and even pick a specific question. It is very easy so your toddler can play without asking for help. Your toddler can earn a coin for every 3 correct answers which can be used to purchase stickers to place in sticker scenes or to purchase fish to create a virtual aquarium.

Math Magic

Make Math easy and fun for your preschooler with this game. Math Magic introduces basic math concepts. It features a friendly voice that gently prompts preschoolers towards the correct answers and says “You can do it!” to encourage toddlers when they get the answer wrong. You can also set a timer to challenge your toddler and you receive a colored star for every 5 successful answers.

With these educational applications, your preschooler can spend plenty of time with your phone or tablet without feeling guilty about letting your toddler use them.

Sunny days, fresh air and children. They go naturally together. Keep your toddler active with this list of fun summer activities for children.

Water Play

The summer heat can drain your toddler’s energy. So why not enjoy a splash and recharge. From sprinklers to pools to water tables, there are plenty of ways to keep your little one entertained with water. Summertime is also the perfect time to teach your toddler how to swim. Water play provides your toddler an opportunity to stimulate his senses, experiment and of course, provide endless laughter and fun.

Organize A Picnic

A picnic is always great for toddlers. On a bright, sunny Saturday, invite your relatives or your friends for a picnic. Ask your toddler to assist you in preparing the food. He can help you make yummy finger foods such as small sandwiches, biscuits, sliced fruits and vegetables and trail mix. Do not forget to pack some juice and water. Grab a blanket and head to the park. Once lunch is over, your toddler and his peers can play tag or hide and seek and when they are exhausted from running, they can just lie in the grass and gaze at the sky.

Start A Collection

Satiate your toddler’s thirst for adventure by going on an expedition. Go around your backyard, neighbourhood or town and let him look for interesting items he can collect – leaves, bugs, rocks, rubber stamps, etc. This activity promotes a fun way to expose your toddler to different things which helps broaden his knowledge.

Go Fishing

This classic hobby is a fun way to boost the bond between dads and toddlers. Bring fishing rods, bobbers, worms (as bait) and rubber gloves. Since the goal for your toddler’s first fishing trip is to catch a fish, pick a location where bites will be easy to come such as creeks, rivers, lakes or a small farm pond. Talk about anything under the sun to keep your toddler from feeling bored while waiting. When he catches a fish, hold it for him and show him the fins and explain how the fish uses them to swim. Teach him to catch and release. Or if you bring fish home, have him bring only what he can eat and release the rest. Do not forget to praise your toddler for a job well done.

Visit A Zoo

Children love animals. The best way to expose your toddler with different species aside from cats and dogs is to go on a day trip to a zoo near you. Stick to a petting zoo so your little one can see animals up close and interact with them. Ask him to trumpet like an elephant, name the colors of the parrot or hold the lamb.

Learn Something New

Now is the best time to enroll your toddler in a class he is interested in. Most community parks offer an array of free and inexpensive activities such as arts and crafts workshop, dance, soccer, tennis and swimming lessons.

Grow A Garden

Give your toddler gardening tools and some fruits, vegetables or herbs to plant. Ask him to water, talk or sing to his plant every day. This is a great way to keep him busy at home. Plus, he will get a kick out of seeing the fruit of his labor.

Summertime is one of the most anticipated seasons of toddlers. These activities will surely keep toddlers busy and happy while stimulating the mind at the same time.

Knowing how to swim is one life skill every individual should know. Teaching a toddler to swim as early as possible will help him get comfortable and equipped while in the water. Here is a step-by-step toddler swimming guide to help you out.

Get Comfortable In The Water

The first step to teaching any toddler how to swim is to make him feel comfortable in the water. Start in shallow water so your toddler can sit and stand with his head above water. Hold his hand and take him to the steps. Sit down together. Give him a toy, sing a song or play games. This will help your child associate water with fun.

Blow Bubbles

Have your toddler sit on the steps and have him watch you as you dip your mouth and chin into the water. Or, you can try submerging your nose, showing him how to blow bubbles through the nose and then ask him to follow you. If your little one is still hesitant to put his face in the water, you can practice blowing bubbles in the bath tub instead. Start by scooping a small amount of water and ask your little one to blow bubbles while gradually lowering your hands into the tub. Slowly remove your hands altogether. Once he is at ease lying on his tummy and blowing bubbles on his own, it is time to try it in the pool.

Submerge The Head

Once your toddler is comfortable blowing bubbles, ask him to try dipping his whole head. Remind him to blow bubbles. You can do it together or you can put your hand on his head while counting up to 3. Doing this helps reduce his anxiety. If he does not like getting his ears wet, pretend that there are fishes in the water and ask him to listen to them.

Practice Kicking

Start by letting him sit on the top step. Stretch his legs in the water and tell him to kick. Once he gets the hang of it, position your toddler’s hands on the edge of the pool. Hold onto his waist and then tell him to “Kick, kick, kick” or “Make waves.”. Continue holding your toddler as you move him around the water as he continues to kick.

Practice Gliding

Once your toddler is an expert at blowing bubbles and kicking, it is time to combine the two. Place your hands in his armpits and slowly glide him around the pool as he kicks. Ask him to blow bubbles with his nose and mouth immersed for 3 seconds and then have him blow bubbles with his face entirely underwater.

Allow Your Toddler To Do It By Himself

Once he has mastered the three skills, have your little one swim to you on his own. Move away from him about 2 feet and ask him to stand on the steps, put his hands over his head, face in the water and push off the step and kick toward you. Once he reaches you, scoop him up, give him a hug and say “You did it! I am so proud of you.”. Offering praise motivates you toddler to try again and will make swimming a positive experience.

When teaching your toddler how to swim, it is also important to teach him safety skills so he can rescue himself in case of an emergency. Train him to extend his arms and legs to the sides like a starfish and blow bubbles in the water.

Putting your toddler’s endless energy into good use is essential in making sure your toddler is healthy. The best way to ensure that is to teach your toddler to exercise. There are various things you can do when it comes to motivating a child to be active. The following tips will help you get started.

Be An Example

Children love imitating their parents, and the best way you can encourage your toddler to be more active is by leading a physically active life. Get yourself moving. Hit the gym or buy an exercise video so you can exercise at home so your toddler can see you getting active. When you show your toddler that fitness is a priority for you, he will follow your lead.

Choose Age-appropriate Activities

Choose the right activities for your toddler’s age. Remember to keep the focus on fun rather than how many calories he will burn daily. Go for physically demanding activities that are not boring or frustrating. Some fun exercises include – playing a catchy song or a children’s exercise song and letting your toddler dance, throwing or kicking a ball, skipping on one foot, playing tag, freeze dancing, running in the backyard or riding a bike (with training wheels).

Go Outside

Instead of taking a stroller with you each time you go out, let your little one wander freely. Being out in the fresh air and basking in the sunshine will motivate your toddler to walk, run, kick, hop, jump and climb much more than he does when inside your home. Look for safe outdoor play places like the playground, park or a wide open field and bring along balls, jump ropes, bike and other toys. Walk to the supermarket. Go apple picking. Visit a dairy farm. Head to the beach and build sand castles or look for seashells. Let your toddler jump in the leaves you have raked.

Enroll Your Toddler In A Class

What does your toddler love to do? If he likes to dance, enroll him in a dance workshop. If he loves wading in the water, sign him up in a swimming class. Taking advantage of your toddler’s hobbies and interests is the easiest way to get his body moving.

Exercise Together

Exercising is more fun when you have a companion. Let your little one join you while you practice a dance routine or do stretches. Organize daily afternoon strolls with other moms and toddlers in your neighborhood. Better yet, get the whole family involved. Play tag in your backyard, take the whole family for an early evening walk around your local park, visit a zoo or go swimming.

Limit TV Time

Children under 2 years old should not spend more than 2 hours watching television every day, including computer and video games. Limit his TV viewing and choose shows or DVDs that encourage your toddler to get up and move or dance along with the characters.

Exercise is one of the key ingredients to living a healthy, happy and balanced life. Encouraging your toddler to be active is actually very easy as long as you keep it fun.

Taking a trip with a toddler is no vacation if one is not prepared. Here is what you should do to enjoy your travel with a toddler whether by land, air or sea.

Pack A Carry-on Bag

Searching for your toddler’s essentials should not be like a treasure hunt. Prepare all of your toddler’s basic travel needs in a carry-on backpack to keep everything handy and in place. Do not forget to bring the following:

Extra clothes for you and your toddler

Sunscreen

First-aid kit

Children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Changing pad

Diapers (at least 3)

Wet wipes

Tissue

Alcohol

Bibs

Sippy cups and bottles

Milk

Plastic, re-sealable bags (for stashing dirty things)

Travel pillow

Blanket

Dress Your Toddler Comfortably

Dress your little one in easy-to-add layers so that you can keep your toddler comfy and fresh whatever the weather. A great travel outfit consists of a cotton ¾ sleeved t-shirt, jeans, sneakers and a jacket or an overall with a long-sleeved shirt underneath. Give your toddler a scarf too so he can simply use it as his blanket if wearing a jacket is just too hot.

Bring A Car Seat and Stroller

For any types of travel, a car seat and stroller are a must-have. A car seat will keep your toddler comfortable and secure and it is more convenient than letting your toddler ride on your lap or using the plane’s car seat. Leave the bulky stroller at home. Bring a lightweight or umbrella stroller instead so you can simply stash it in your car trunk or a plane’s overhead bin or drop it off at the departure gate.

Also, it is important that you keep your little one hydrated. Keep drinks close at hand. Make sure you have bottled water on hand so you can keep your toddler’s sippy cup full. Avoid giving fruit juices and sodas as the caffeine content will only amp up your tot’s energy when you least want it to.

Provide Entertainment

Travel time bores toddlers. Keep you little one busy by bringing a goodie bag containing a few of your toddler’s favorite toys, plus a couple of new objects he can enjoy. For instance, you may bring two of his favorite books, his stuffed dog, robot, stacking ring toy, a new activity book, papers and pens, finger puppets, musical toys, sing-along CD’s or anything else that interests him. Stash all of them in a mesh bag and pin the bag to his car seat or to the seat back in front of him so he can easily pull out his toys.

Traveling with children is both a happy and tense experience. So expect some setbacks, be patient and ready to face these hurdles. Keep your calm, no matter what.